Rian Johnson and editor Bob Ducsay talk about one of The Last Jedi’s most controversial choices – Luke Skywalker’s arc in the movie and how it led to his last scene.
I don’t want to get too explicit, because I like people being able to have their own interpretations, but I think definitely the act of what he does at the end literally just takes everything out of him. That’s a huge thing. Also … he’s having his final act be something of myth-making in a way.
It does go back a little bit to what he said at the beginning [of “The Last Jedi”]. “What do you think one guy walking out there with a lightsaber [can do]?” … The answer is: Create a legend that will spread hope. And once he’s done that, combined with the physical toll it’s taken on him, you can make the case that then there’s nothing more powerful that he could accomplish.
I don’t think anyone believes this is the last we’ll see of Mark Hamill as Luke, but I’m already dreading J.J. Abrams putting something so obvious in the IX mystery box.